Report of the River Master of the Delaware River for the period December 1, 1985, to November 30, 1986

Abstract

A Decree of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1954 established the position of Delaware River Master. The Decree authorizes diversions of water from the Delaware River Basin (Figure 1) and requires compensating releases from certain reservoirs of the City of New York to be made under the supervision and direction of the River Master. Reports to the Court, not less frequently than annually, were stipulated. During the 1986 report year, December 1, 1985, to November 30, 1986, precipitation and runoff varied from below average to above average in the Delaware River Basin. For the year as a whole, precipitation was 4.3 inches above average. Runoff was near average. Operations were under a status of drought at the beginning of the report year. The drought emergency was terminated on December 18, 1985, by the Delaware River Basin Commission, and operations were returned to normal as prescribed by the Decree for the remainder of the report yr. Storage in the reservoirs increased to capacity during the winter months and all New York City Delaware River Basin reservoirs spilled throughout the year. Diversions from Delaware River Basin by New York City and New Jersey did not exceed those authorized by the terms of the Amended Decree. Releases were made as directed by the River Master at rates designed to meet the Montague flow objective on 69 days during the June to November period. Releases were made at conservation rates or at rates designed to relieve thermal stress in the streams downstream from the reservoirs at other times. The excess release quantity as defined by the Decree was not expended by end of the report year. New York City complied fully with the terms of the Decree and with the directives of the River Master during the year. (See also W89-04133) (USGS)